Improvement in clasps for machine-belting



` G. H. FUX.

Clasp for Machine-Bening. No.l67,8.32.

Patented Sept. 2.1, A1875. I?

lfl'llzessex Inl/enla?? PATENT QEEIcEo GEORGE H. FOX, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOR MACHINE-BELTING.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,832, dated September 21, 1875; application filed August 13, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. Fox, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Belt-Olasps, of which the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient device for uniting the ends of belts, which may be readily and con.- veniently attached to, or detached from, the belt, and which, when in use, will afford a rm connection without tendency to displacement, to which end my improvements consist in combining two plates provided with clamping-jaws, placed diametrically opposite each other upon the two plates, with a separatingspring and screws, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

My invention is an improvement upon beltclasps heretofore proposed, composed of two plates, provided with interlocking jaws, and united by screws. I have found in practice that the interlocking jaws do not permit the easy curving of the belt in passing around its pulleys, and, moreover, the adjustment of the clasps upon the belt is inconvenient, as the two plates will wabble or twist from one side to the other during the operation, rendering it a matter of difficulty to fasten them to the ends oi'f the belt.A

Practical experience has evinced that my improved clasp obviates the difficulties above stated, and satisfactorily accomplishes the purpose for which it is designed'.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a plan or top viewof a belt-clasp embodying my improvements attached to a belt; Fig. 2, a vertical central section of the same 5 Fig. 3, a view in perspective of the outer plate, and Fig. 4, a similar view of the inner plate.

To carry out my invention, I provide an outer plate, A, having two clamping-jaws, a a, and an inner plate, B, having two similar jaws, b b. .The plates A and B are of equal width, so that when fitted upon the ends of the belt the jaws a a and b b will be diametrically opposite each other, and will clamp the belt in a line at right angles to its length. A longitudinal rib or projection, b', is formed upon the plate B, and is prov'ided with a recess, b2, at its centerto receive a spiral spring, O, one end of which abuts against thebottom of the recess, and the other against the outer plate A, when the clasp is applied to the belt. The plates are clamped together upon the belt by screws D.

l The object of the spring (l is to separate the plates when the screws are slackened, so that the ends of the belt can be readily introduced between them in applying theclasp.

The inner sides of the jaws a a b b should be rounded with an easy curve, so as to present no sharp corners, and the plates should be as thin and narrow as is consistent with proper strength.

In a belt-clasp,'constructed as above described, I have found that the single jaws on each side of the plates, placed diametrically opposite each other, will enable the belt to properly curve around its pulleys, which it cannot do if interlocking teeth are employed, while the spring is very convenient in attaching the clasp.

Clamping-plates, provided with interlocking surfaces, have been heretofore known, and I do not, therefore, broadly claim such plates.

I claim as my invention- The combination, in a belt-clasp, of the plates A B, provided with clamping-jaws a a b b placed diametrically opposite each other, with the screws D D, and spring G, substantially as set forth. j

GEO. ELKFOX. Witnesses:

A. N. CLARK, WM. B. BUTcHERs. 

